Social ostracism: current state of the problem, methodology and research methods

Abstract

The problem of overcoming the risks and factors that generate destructive (anti-social, delinquent, auto-destructive, etc.) behavior of minors and youth is relevant for juvenile legal psychology and requires the construction of effective research models. The article considers the phenomenon of ostracism as one of the significant predictors of destructive behavior. According to K. D. Williams` ostracism model in a situation of ostracism, one or more basic needs of an individual are threatened: control, self-esteem (the level of self-esteem decreases), belonging and meaningful existence That, in the end, can determine radical reactions in the ostracized: autoagression, displaced aggression, the decision to join extremist organizations or cults, and other acts of anti-social behavior. This fact served as an impetus for a large number of studies in this area and mediated the creation of its own methodological base, applicable exclusively to the study of the phenomenon of social ostracism (ignoring, exclusion, rejection). The article attempts to systematize the methodology of studying the phenomenon of social ostracism: research methods are considered not only from the position of the object (target) of ostracism, but also the subject (source) and observer (vicar ostracism); descriptions of experimental schemes are carried out. The article is of interest to researchers who study the psychological aspects of ignoring, rejecting, and / or excluding, as well as to methodologists.